Sports Hernia vs. Groin Strain: Unraveling the Differences

In this video, we're going to be discussing the difference between a sports hernia and a Groin Strain. We'll also be giving you some tips on how to tell the difference and what to do if you experience either of these injuries.

If you're looking for advice on how to treat a Sports Hernia or Groin Strain, then this video is for you! We'll discuss the symptoms and treatment options for each injury, and help you make the right decision for your health. We hope you find this video helpful!

#sportshernia #hernia #hippain

Sports Hernia Diagnosis

What Is A Sports Hernia?

A sports hernia is tearing of the transversalis fascia of the lower abdominal or groin region. A common misconception is that a sports hernia is the same as a traditional hernia. The mechanism of injury is rapid twisting and change of direction within sports, such as football, basketball, soccer and hockey.

The term “sports hernia” is becoming mainstream with more professional athletes being diagnosed. The following are just to name a few:

Torii Hunter
Tom Brady
Ryan Getzlaf
Julio Jones
Jeremy Shockey
If you follow any of these professional athletes, they all seem to have the same thing in common: Lingering groin pain. If you play fantasy sports, this is a major headache since it seems so minor, but it can land a player on Injury Reserve on a moments notice. In real life, it is a very frustrating condition to say the least. It is hard to pin point, goes away with rest and comes back after activity, but is hardly painful enough to make you want to stop. It lingers and is always on your mind. And if you’re looking for my step-by-step sports hernia rehab video course here it is.

One the best definitions of Sport hernias is the following by Harmon:
The phenomena of chronic activity–related groin pain that it is unresponsive to conservative therapy and significantly improves with surgical repair.”

This is truly how sports hernias behave in a clinical setting. It is not uncommon for a sports hernia to be unrecognized for months and even years. Unlike your typical sports injury, most sports medicine offices have only seen a handful of cases. It’s just not on most doctors’ radar. The purpose of this article is not only to bring awareness about sports hernias, but also to educate.

Will you find quick fixes in this article for sports hernia rehab?
Nope. There is no quick fix for this condition, and if someone is trying to sell you one, they are blowing smoke up your you-know-what.

Is there a way to decrease the pain related to sports hernias?
Yes. Proper rehab and avoidance of activity for a certain period of time will assist greatly, but this will not always stop it from coming back. Pain is the first thing to go and last thing to come. Do not be fooled when you become pain-free by resting it. Pain is only one measure of improvement in your rehab. Strength, change of direction, balance and power (just to name a few) are important, since you obviously desire to play your sport again. If you wanted to be a couch potato, you would be feeling better in no time. Watching Sports Center doesn’t require any movement.

Why is this article so long?
There is a lot of information on sports hernias available to you on the web. However, much of the information is spread out all over the internet and hard for athletes to digest due to complicated terminology. This article lays out the foundational terminology you will need to understand what options you have with your injury. We will go over anatomy, biomechanics, rehab, surgery, and even the fun facts. The information I am using is from the last ten years of medical research, up until 2016. We will be making updates overtime when something new is found as well. So link to this page and share with friends. This is the best source for information on sports hernias you will find.

Common Names (or Aliases?) for Sports Hernias
Sportsman’s Hernia
Athletic Pubalgia
Gilmore’s Groin
How Do You Know If You Have A Sports Hernia?
Typical athlete characteristics:
Male, age mid-20s
Common sports: soccer, hockey, tennis, football, field hockey
Motions involved: cutting, pivoting, kicking and sharp turns
Gradual onset

How A Sports Hernia Develops
Chronic groin pain typically happens over time, which is why with sports hernias, we do not hear many stories of feeling a “pop” or a specific moment of injury. It is the result of “overuse” mechanics stemming from a combination of inadequate strength and endurance, lack of dynamic control, movement pattern abnormalities, and discoordination of motion in the groin area.

#SportsHernia #GroinStrain

[Joseftende-cjdb]

29/07/23 started feeling pain in my left groin and the next day also my right side hurt like hell then I came across you guys page since then I followed through Your procedures and today am feeling more better you guys are the bomb

[warrenr.johnson]

Best explanation I have found. Thanks!

[sapperjaeger]

this was super helpful -- thanks so much!

[MilliAnov]

Thank you for these videos, I've been having groin pain coming on and off, every time I go out for a walk after 5-10 minutes my groin starts to hurt, I've had this problem since, 2019 as I said coming on and off and it's really etettednto bother me at this point, but I can't seem to understand the problem behind it, this channel has been of help to me though, thank you guys!!

[mcchacho]

Thank you for the great explanation in this video. I had a bad ski accident on March 21st where I went over backwards on a very steep tree run and was backflipping down the mountain and came to a slamming halt about 50 yards from where it started. Very lucky that I did not hit trees. Broken leg, concussion, and I believe impact to the groin area as well as immediate strain in that lower pelvic area. Everything down there got very black and blue which has gone awa, y but I believe I may have a sports hernia as well as groin strain. I could hardly move without pain in that area and it has gotten slowly better to the point where it is still painful but no where near where it was. I really want to get over the hump on this as my leg will be healed soon and want to get back to golf, pickleball, etc. Wanted to see if you recommend starting some rehab at this point and if so I will search your videos to get started for appropriate videos. Thanks again for the great info.

[iam_samueldigital]

Very good info, thank you. Digestive issue, after eating or drink water the upper groin swells and subside after digestion.

[percentGorilla]

Great info. Although I’m a physio self-diagnosing is still hard sometimes and this really helped me consolidate my thinking around a current injury.

[Jordan-fwbz]

It’s on the left side for me. But the pain comes most when I just lay down. So at night when im sleeping. The pain gets terrible.

[porterwake]

I'm 36, played a game of basketball, and my groin feels fine walking around, but when I run, cough, or play pickup basketball again, it is a stinking pain in my pelvic area, groin, pubic area. I do not think it is an actual hernia. I've taken two weeks off from playing ball and any workouts.

[mfelicien]

This was very helpful I have surgery for hernia after 6 years it came back

[socaltigerpilot]

Thanks for making these videos. I’ve been experiencing a little tenderness in the groin in the days after my hockey games. During a game yesterday, I felt a pop and intense pain down where the adductors meet the pubic bone. I needed to be helped off the ice. Unfortunately today, the pain was so bad I could barely get out of bed. I’m thinking I’ll give you guys a call as I’m in OC too. Budget and crappy insurance may prevent that though, so thanks a ton for making these pro bono!

[meghanbarrett]

so like you said at 8:52 "if you stand up and it hurts" then what is that most likely??

[ElTerceroCharles]

I’ve gotten CT scans both with and without contrast and ultrasound but all negative still dealing with pain above the pubic bone area and groin pain in that hip crease. Feel it doing sit ups, I can’t go on a jog and the more I’m active the more it flares up.

Have been dealing with this for almost 6 months.

Initially started from heavy squats. Did squats one week about 2-3x groin got super super sore seemed like it took forever to heal and then the hip pain revealed itself.

[YizTheGOAT]

Hi,

I went to a physician about 30 days ago.
I was diagnosed with a groin strain, put on medication for the past 30 days. Methypredisolone (steroid pill) for 6 days and meloxicam for 30 days (painkiller pill).

My injury has gotten better, but I am still able to feel the strain/slight pain when making sudden movements like flipping my hips to run to my left or right (I am a football player).

Should I go back to the physician to get more medication? Or should I just rest a little longer?

Like I said, it’s gotten much better, there’s just slight pain/soreness still when making very sudden movements

[Yukoner]

Thanks Sebastian for a great video and nailing down my symptoms to a tee. Sports Hernia! I'll check out your other videos to see what I can do to fix it. If I was in Costa Mesa, I'd come and see you. But I'm in Yukon (beside Alaska). LOL
I'm an active, soccer playing 66 year old. Had a hip replacement almost a year ago and the results have been amazing! BTW, the hernia symptoms are on the good old hip, not the bionic one.
One day I got a little carried away with doing planks and tried a new variation where you rotate your body and lift one arm to the sky, then rotate the other way and reach way under your body. I really pushed myself with this movement, even though it was slow and controlled. Since that time, about a month ago, I've noticed all the symptoms you mentioned. I suspect I'm going to have to stay away from soccer for a few weeks. Up to now, I've continued playing twice a week and I can feel that it's more painful during and after the games.

[hrrh]

Thank you thank you thank you excellent

[judedominach]

Great video. What’s the recommended sleep position with groin injury?

[glen]

Today I did a trap bar deadlift, and I do push myself on every workout. I was hitting again a new small personal record of 130 kg which is exactly 10 kg (22 lbs) more since the precious workout. On the second rep (out of 6) I felt exactly on the place you are showing at 01:09 (inguinal ligament) a sharp pain. I would describe the pain as something small inside was contracting/trying to shrink itself while making me feel sharp pain. The pain was the strongest exactly after I just lifted the weights off the ground (while being slightly bend in the knees and almost parallel to the ground from the waist up, and when I was standing straight up with the weights in my hands the pain was almost gone. I finished the rep, and pushed consciously through the pain as I was not sure what it was for 2-3 more reps but the pain didn't go away, and that I took as a sign to stop completely my whole workout. Any suggestions or ideas what it might be? I should also say that I feel like I didn't have the proper form this time while doing the exercise. I feel like the weights where so heavy that it was difficult for me to have a tight core which is crucial for a deadlift. My current body weight is 85kg (190 lbs).

[strstrength]

I literally woke up with right testicle pain. I don't run or play sports. I jist lift weight being a trainer. Nothing like this ever happened. Went to a Urologist. Didnt scan me. Just palpated. He said I dokt have an hernia. Just tendinitis in the groin under the riggt testicle. Said ice and lay off the heavy training. Im still lost as to what it is ir what caused it.

[Bryan-grkn]

Thank you. I hurt my groin last week squatting. It hurts pretty bad but there’s no bruising after 6 days. I have my mri tomorrow and ortho Friday so I’m hoping I don’t need surgery.

One thing I’m confused about is when you said if you sit and it hurts worse to stand up it might not be either of them. What would it be if that’s the case because that’s definitely my symptom?